Game of Emotion

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Chapter 3
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Pansy was now really quite sure that Professor Snape really was as much of a sadistic bastard as all the other houses gave him credit for. It felt like she had been in Potions for hours, when in reality it had only been twenty minutes. Professor Snape had waited for all the students to file into the room, before giving them all an evil smile.

"Today, I will be assigning partners." He began, an unpleasant grin on his face. "And you will be working with them for the rest of semester. Professor Dumbledore has suggested I pair you..." The grin grew into a fully-fledged beam. "In interhouse pairs. Sit with your partner when I call your names. Malfoy and Granger. Zabini and Longbottom. Weasley and Bulstrode..." The names continued on, until finally, Snape looked over at her. "And Mr. Potter, and Miss Parkinson."

Pansy gave him an unreadable look, but internally she was fuming. A WHOLE semester? With Potter?! What exactly had she ever done to Professor Snape, anyway? She turned to look at Harry, and raised an eyebrow. 'Well Potter?' She thought mockingly. 'I'm not moving, so you'd better hurry over here before Snape starts taking points. And I can tell you, it wont be from me either.'

Harry frowned and stalked across the room towards her, swinging his bookbag over his shoulder. Who was she to issue commands to him anyway? Even if they were only challenging looks. He uncharacteristically hurled himself into the chair next to her, and took out his potions book.

Snape was at the board again. "Today we will be preparing a mild healing potion, as Madame Pomfrey is low. This potion is good for colds, influenza, and allergies. Collect your ingredients from the front of the room, and begin." He gave the class a sour smile. "Failure to make this simple" he emphasized the word, "potion, will result in losing ten percent of your Potions grade. Any questions?"

The class wisely chose to remain quiet.

"Now, I have to leave the room for a while, and when I come back, I expect everyone to be completed, or successfully brewing the potion." He swept out of the room, and his robes gave a dramatic billow around him as he left.

Everyone gave the closed door an incredulous look, before walking up to the front to grab their ingredients.

Pansy and Harry managed to make it through the whole class without actually speaking to each other. They 'accidentally' brushed against each other from time to time, each in an effort to make the other show that they were getting under their skins.

Had Hermione and Draco been there, they would have looked on in amusement, arguing scoring for this or that action. However, the Head Boy and Girl were not there, only Millicent was looking on with suspicion, at the Gryffindor and her best friend. What exactly were they doing? Pansy wouldn't be stupid enough to get into a relationship with the Dark Lord's enemy, would she? Surely not!

But.... Millicent risked another look over at Pansy, this time, startled as her eyes met her friends. The Slytherin girl pulled her eyes back to her table. If she was... The Parkinson's were certainly going to hear of the actions of their youngest daughter. Friend Pansy may be, but Millicent was not going to cover up for her. At least not for a relationship with Harry Potter. What was Pansy thinking?

*

Pansy looked back over at Millicent, but Millicent had put her head back down. What was she doing? Spying? On her, Pansy? She'd have to see about that. The Slytherin girl glanced at her Potions Partner. Was that a faint blush? She smirked and bent her head, maybe it would be easy, after all.

Harry aimed a glare at his opponents busy form. She was smirking again, like the cat that got the canary. He felt a slight growl rumble through his chest. What did she think she was doing anyway? He leaned back in his chair, and stretched, 'accidentally' running a hand down the nape of her neck.

Pansy shivered slightly, and scowled at him for her response.

Harry's glare modulated its self into a smug look. She'd reacted this time. And it was the end of class. He gathered up his things into his bag. "Having problems, Parkinson?" He asked mockingly, placing his potion into the bottle provided.

Pansy gave him a sultry look. "Not as much as you are about to have Potter." She replied, swinging her bag over her shoulder, and gesturing with one hand to Ron. Ron who was storming over to their table. Pansy grabbed her own flask. "Now if you will excuse me, Mister Potter, I have places to be." With that, she walked off, putting a swing in her hips for his benefit.

"What are you doing with Pansy Parkinson??!" Ron exclaimed irately, as Pansy left the room, a smirk on her face.

Harry's eyes were guarded. "Doing, Ron?" He asked innocently. "I'm not doing anything. Whatever gave you that idea?"

Ron glared. "Maybe the cutesy couple thing you've been doing this morning?"

Harry laughed lightly. "Cutis couple thing? Ron, we aren't dating, nor will we ever. We are however having a private game." His eyes turned steely. "So, if you do not mind, please don't interfere." Harry picked up his own bag, put his potion on Snape's desk with the others, and walked out, past his stunned friend.

Well that was probably a match in a kerosene factory.

Ron Weasley, doer of 'things he'll later regret' extradinare, was about to strike again.

*

Hermione and Draco were still sitting together during second class. Only, now, they were seated next to each other in Professor Albus Dumbledore's office.

Hermione sipped a cup of tea, and Draco lounged in his chair. The Professor himself was no where to be found.

"How do you think it's going?" Hermione asked casually, swinging her feet absentmindedly.

"How what is going? Draco asked curiously.

"The game." Was Hermione's answer.

Draco threw her an interested look. "I think Pansy is still winning, why?" The Slytherin boy stretched cat-like, and reclined even further back in his chair.

The Gryffindor girl smiled warmly. "Oh I think not. Harry has probably evened the score by now. Or surpassed it. Either way, Dracy, you are going to have to pay up." She tilted her head to one side, and played with one of the strands that framed her face.

Draco was about to reply, but suddenly sat up straight in his chair.

"Good Morning Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy." The Headmaster greeted them warmly.

"Good Morning, Professor." Hermione said cheerily.

"Good day, Professor." Draco said.

Dumbledore sat down in his chair behind his desk, and peered at them over his spectacles. "Now you may be wondering why I asked you to meet me here this morning..."

Hermione and Draco maintained carefully blank looks on their faces. Actually, they hadn't been wondering at all why the Professor had summoned them; they had been far too interested in talking about the 'Game' going on, and who exactly would win. Well, that, and what they would each claim from the other as the winner.

"Er, yes Professor." Hermione eventually replied.

"Well it has come to my attention, that interhouse 'bonding' is at an all time low, and I wanted to know if you could come up with some ideas to improve interhouse relations." Dumbledore smiled kindly at them.

Draco shot Hermione a warning look, which meant 'No, we wont accept this one.'

Hermione internally sighed. "Sorry Professor, but we're so busy with extra credit for so many subjects, that we, or at least, I, don't have enough time to take on another project, especially one like overcoming the blatant hostility between houses. However, it is a good idea, and I heard you've implicated mixed house pairings in most classes."

Dumbledore coughed. "Yes, I have. Oh yes, Severus wanted me to pass on the message that you have been paired together for Potions for the rest of semester."

The two teenagers exchanged a stricken look. Well, Hermione's look was stricken anyway. Draco's was just amused.

"If that is all Headmaster," Draco began tactfully, "Hermione and I had better be getting to our next classes."

Eventually they were dismissed, and they left the office. As soon as they had exited the room, Hermione whirled on Draco.

"I can't believe we have to work together on another thing for the rest of Semester!" She scowled, and flipped some of her hair out her eyes. "I mean, don't we spend enough time together?? We have to practically live together in those private rooms we have." She stomped along, her small feet not making quite as much noise as she felt was required for how she was feeling.

"Calm down, Granger." Draco said, a playful look in his eyes. "You're acting like we were told we'd have to date or something."

Hermione scowled back at him. "Well, I do not like this one bit." She pouted for a moment, before it melded into a smile. "I wonder how Professor Snape paired the rest of the class then?" She asked innocently.

Draco smiled, an expression rarely seen, and Hermione's breath caught in her throat. "I would expect he probably paired Pansy with Weasley or Potter. Neither would like that very much."

The Gryffindor girl grinned happily, previously irritated motions becoming softer. "Well, wouldn't it just make this more interesting if he had?" She tossed her hair. "Well, this should be interesting. However.." She looked over at her watch. "We'd better hurry up, Arithmancy is half over!"

Draco smirked. "Same old Granger. Always eager for class."

Hermione stuck her tongue out at him, childishly, before running off down the corridor, hair flying out behind her. "I still say I'll win Malfoy!"

Draco raced off after her. "Uh huh, whatever you say, Granger." He overtook her, and laughed when she protested.

It was going to be a wonderful day.

*

Harry had cornered her in an apparently deserted stairwell.

The Gryffindor boy pressed her against the wall, and leant forward. Their faces were so close that Pansy could feel his breath on her face. He leaned closer, until she could feel every indent of his body. His lips were millimeters from her, and...

Ron Weasley ran in. Honestly, he had the absolute worst timing.

Harry sighed, and swung himself off Pansy's body. Although her body cried out for the loss, she kept her face impassive.

"Harry?! What are you doing?" Ron demanded, face going as red as his hair.

"Geez, Weasley," Pansy drawled, straightening her robes and grabbing her bag. "I thought it would be pretty obvious what he was doing. Even if it is you."

Ron frowned. "It's none of your business Parkinson." He snarled. "Just because you whore yourself out..."

SLAP! The sound reverberated around the small enclosed place.

"Never say something like that to me again Weasley." Pansy said in a deceptively calm tone. "Or I guarantee, you will be maimed." She stalked out of the room, and threw one last comment over her shoulder. "See you later Potter."

Harry rounded on Ron, face white with anger. "Did I, or did I not tell you to keep out of the game Ron?" He asked, his own voice exhibiting the same deceptively calm tone as Pansy's. "Did you not understand the request?"

Ron glared. "I can't believe you would be so stupid as to get into anything with a Slytherin, any Slytherin, but especially one of Malfoy's lay-offs."

Harry let out a loud sigh. "It's none of your business Ron, what I do or don't do. And I will not let you dictate my actions, ever." Harry picked up his own bag, and, as he had earlier in Potions, walked out on one of his best friends.

Ron stared after his friends retreating back. Fine, if Harry didn't want his advice, he obviously wasn't much of a friend anyway.

Who needed Harry James Potter?

*

It was late, and as Pansy lay in bed in her dorm, she contemplated the days events.

Harry Potter had almost kissed her. Weasley had yelled at her about seducing his friend away from the 'Good' side. Granger and Draco had sat together at all meals, talking intensely.

It had been a very bizarre day.

But... she was still winning, albeit less than she had been at the beginning of the day.

She just couldn't get over how close they had come to kissing, before Weasley had walked in. Pansy pulled her pillow over her face and let out a soft moan. Why was she obsessing over Potter anyway?

Irritating, smug bastard.

They'd just see who was successful.

*

Hermione walked into her bedroom, and was stunned to find Harry sitting on her bed, patting Crookshanks. "Harry?" She asked, "What are you doing in here?"

Harry looked up. "Ron and I had a fight." He said, with a grim look. "He was telling me what to do with my life, and I called him on it."

The Gryffindor girl rolled her eyes, and let out a sigh. "He'll get over it Harry. He always does. He will forgive you in time."

"Maybe I don't want his forgiveness, Hermione." Harry replied, eyes glinting steely. "He always overreacts to things, and then 'forgives' the person he overreacted to later. Well it wont work this time." His jaw clenched.

Behind Harry, the door opened, Hermione, jerked her head to one side, indicating to Draco that now was not a good time.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her before letting himself out again. Through the open door, Hermione could make out the faint sounds of the shower starting up in the bathroom next door.

Hermione sat down on her bed, and started to talk earnestly to Harry.

Well, this was an unexpected development. And she'd have to speak to Ron before making any judgements, or taking either side, if she did end up doing so.

How perplexing.

After an hour of talking, the girl managed to get Harry to leave via the special portrait into the Gryffindor Common Room from her suite. When Harry was gone, Hermione flopped onto her bed, face down.

Draco slipped back into her room, hair still wet from washing. "What did Potter want?" he enquired, stretching lazily like a big blonde cat.

Hermione rolled over and gave him a dirty look. "If you must know, he and Ron had a fight. Apparently Harry and Pansy did get paired in Potions, and Ron lost it over the fact that they managed to mostly ignore each other. But I'm going to get Ron's side of the story before saying anything about it. Okay Malfoy?" She arched an eyebrow at him, and reclined on her bed.

Draco inclined his head in response. "Fine, Granger. Sounds like a plan. Of course, it doesn't really concern me if it's just Weasel, does it?" He smothered a yawn with his hand. "Well I am off to bed." He announced, moving to leave. "Care to join me?" He asked with a smirk.

Hermione gave him a cold look, before waving a hand negligently in his general direction. "Leave, Malfoy." She said with a scowl, before flopping face forward back into her pillow. "I want some rest."

Nothing more was said by either that night.

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Sorry it was A. So late, and B. Not very good. I had the most awful writers block on this story, it was a pain. Next chapter will (hopefully) be out sooner.

Any thoughts or comments will be appreciated. Flames will be read and then laughed at. Possibly replied to if you are brave enough to review while logged in or leave an email address. Oh please be brave enough!

~J